In 1964, Ford introduced the Mustang. It was a near-instant success and spawned an entire sector of so-called "pony" cars that aimed to ride on the coattails of the Mustang's success.(Credit: Ford Motor Company)

Ford Mustang: The original American pony car

March 19, 2013 4:25 PM

Ford introduced the Mustang in 1964 and its instant popularity ignited a whole host of imitations by rival domestic manufacturers, known collectivity as American "pony cars." The Mustang has endured five generations of redesigns.

In advance of the 50th anniversary of the first Mustang, Ford plans to radically refresh the brand in 2014. With that in mind, here's a look back at a half-century of Ford Mustangs.